Christmas Social Event

Protecting biodiverse brownfield
6 October 2015

A small proportion of brownfield sites can support very significant biodiversity and also provide the last ‘wild’ spaces in urban areas, allowing access to nature and improving people’s health outcomes…

Redeveloping brownfield land can provide development opportunities and reduce pressures on green belt land and other undeveloped areas, giving opportunities to promote economic regeneration. Planning policy is explicit that brownfield sites should be prioritised for redevelopment provided they are not of ‘high environmental value’.

With Councils across NI currently working on long–term development plans for their areas, but without advice on the interpretation of ‘high environmental value’ in the context of brownfield land, it is possible that some sites could be inappropriately identified for development. In order to avoid possible conflicts between conservation and development, the Wildlife and Countryside Link have developed guidance which we hope gives a useful steer. You can access it here. These wildlife rich sites will usually either meet the criteria for the UK Priority Habitat Open Mosiac Habitat on Previously Developed Land (OMHPDL), or have an existing conservation designation.

Experience has shown that brownfield land meeting the criteria for ‘high environmental value’ will be a small proportion of the total (less than 10%) so this should not be seen as a constraint on economic growth. Councils that have not yet mapped the extent of OMHPDL (Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land) within their area should consider doing so.

Buglife, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, have expertise in brownfield land and now have a presence in Northern Ireland. For further information we recommend taking a look at their online brownfield hub or contacting the Northern Ireland Officer, Adam Mantell, on adam.mantell@buglife.org.uk.